LELAND MELVIN, Astronaut
Associate Administrator
Office of Education
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Never in his wildest dreams did LELAND MELVIN imagine that he would have a career as an Astronaut - much less walk in space but as they say, "life is what happens when you're making plans" and Melvin's plan was to play professional football. Unexpectedly, an injury forced him to trade in his football helmet for another kind of helmet - one that was attached to the iconic NASA pumpkin colored space suit. His career as an Astronaut led him to visit Space Station 1 on two missions and now he serves under NASA's first African-American Administrator Charles Bolden, as the Associate Administrator for the Office of Education. On this terrestrial mission Melvin's primary assignment is to inspire young people from mainly under-represented communities to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, through programs like the Summer of Innovation, fellowships and collaborations with popular public figures. Spend an hour with one of NASA's most capable ambassadors and a true Renaissance Man.
Angela McKenzie is the Producer & Presenter of Initiative Radio